Potters overpower the Rebels

January 19, 2014

EAST LIVERPOOL - Scoring runs in each of the four quarters propelled the East Liverpool Potters to 70-36 win over the Crestview Rebels on Saturday night at Potter Fieldhouse.

Winners of their last five games, the Potters improve to 9-4. The Rebels are 5-7.

East Liverpool's Hayden Cunningham totaled 19 points to lead all scorers. He was supported by Kade Reynolds 12 and Isaac Davidson 11. Owen Crawford chipped in with eight points, while frontcourt mates Austin Emmerling and Aaron Long each tossed in six. Emmerling led the Potter rebounders with seven grabs. Long snagged five rebounds, had three steals and blocked four shots.

Crestview was led in scoring by Eric Lloyd with 10, followed by Josh McDade eight. Lloyd and McDade worked hard on the interior for the Rebels.

The Potters raced out to a 9-0 lead on two baskets by Crawford, one by Cunningham and a three-pointer by Reynolds. After a quick timeout, the Rebels regrouped for baskets by McDade, Lloyd and Collin Gilbert followed by a McDade free throw to pull within two, 9-7.

"At that point, we were doing a good job of executing," Crestview coach Herman Miller said. "We knew that we had to beat their pressure. They are such a long team that is hard to go inside on them. They have great length."

East Liverpool answered with a 9-4 run the final three minutes of the quarter for an 18-11 lead.

"Our gameplan was to move the ball and we did," East Liverpool coach Nate Conley said. "We have been coming down, making just one pass and then putting up a shot. This is something that we need to get better at."

East Liverpool went on a 9-0 binge to open the second quarter. Long brought the crowd to their feet with a resounding two-handed jam, before Cunningham netted the next seven points for a 27-11 Potter lead. McDade, Lloyd and Evan Beachler netted close-range shots for the Rebels as they trimmed the margin to 12, 30-18. In the final two minutes of the half, Davidson drained two consecutive three-pointers and Cunningham hit two of three charity tosses for a 38-18 Potter lead at halftime.

"Hayden and Isaac are true gym rats," Conley said. "They are always in the gym having shooting contests with one another."

Crestview opened the third quarter with quick baskets by McDade, Lloyd and Dylan Hart. The Potters then went on a 17-2 scoring rampage the last five minutes of the quarter, boosting their lead to 59-26 after three sessions. Austin, Reynolds, Long, Cunningham and Davidson all scored during this outburst which featured some crisp passing and high-speed movements.

"Please give East Liverpool credit. They are a complete basketball team," Miller said. "They have shooters. They have size. Coach Conley displayed sportsmanship with playing so many players. The only problem is the players coming off the bench are still pretty good shooters and rebounders."

A 7-0 Potter run covering the first half of the fourth quarter, increased the East Liverpool lead to 66-26 with 3:18 remaining.

"I was happy with how Isaac Davidson, Zack English, Aaron Long and John Rickerd played coming off the bench," Conley said. "Long had a pretty good game. Isaac got some time at point guard. Zack is getting better at handling the ball and John hit a three."

GAME NOTES

Cunningham was honored in a pregame ceremony for his 51-point outburst on Jan. 11 versus Cameron. East Liverpool athletic director Bob Shansky presented Cunningham with the basketball from his record-setting performance.

Both teams are on the road Tuesday as Crestview plays at Lowellville while East Liverpool travels to Claymont.

East Liverpool won the JV game 65-42. The Potters were led by Zack Adkins 17 and Joey Bickerton 13. The Rebel's Eiljah McCallum topped all scorers with 22. Aaron Muntean tallied 10 for Crestview.

The Potter freshmen team defeated the Beaver Local freshmen 67-47 in a late afternoon contest at Beaver Local. Robbie Davis paced the Potters with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Logan Dawson netted 14 while passing out seven assists. Aaron Bombich tallied 13 and was credited with six steals. Tyler Adkins scored 11.

Beaver Local was paced by Chase Wilcox with 19 points, followed by Zac Boni 10 and Josh Smith nine.